Heddon Hellbender for Stripers? Poor man’s Downrigger

[Tfall]

Has anyone tried this setup for fishing Stripers? Was reading about attaching a 4 to 5ft leader to the tail of a Hellbender that has your favorite striper lure attached. That way it will get it down deep to where the Stripers are at while trolling. I plan on hitting Norfolk lake for a week in June for Stripers and was researching ways to catch them. Apparently when you remove the hooks on the Hellbender it’s like a poor man’s downrigger.

https://www.amazon.com/Heddon-Hellbe...36074638&psc=1

[fr8dog]

Why won’t they just hit the Hellbender? Generally, anything you drag in front of their face they’ll eat. The concept seems good though.

[ECobb91]

Try snap weights or dipsy divers too. We used them all the time trolling for Lake Ontario brown trout and salmon

[gambler4]

we used to use the magnum hell benders in Keystone lake Oklahoma , at one time Mannford Oklahoma was the Striper capitol of the world , a magnum hellbender would run 20-25 feet deep, remove the front hook replace it with a 3-5 foot leader a 1 ounce jig head and depending on the day a white or yellow fliptail grub was the ticket. you could get the hellbender to bang bottom in 35 foot of water. we would use 50 lb line on surf rods because trolling at 5 mph with that lure was like catching a 5lb bass just holding the rod

[hulapopr]

When not using a downrigger we used
pink ladies or a deep six.the hellbender
works too but leave a hook on it.

[high 2]

we used to use the magnum hell benders in Keystone lake Oklahoma , at one time Mannford Oklahoma was the Striper capitol of the world , a magnum hellbender would run 20-25 feet deep, remove the front hook replace it with a 3-5 foot leader a 1 ounce jig head and depending on the day a white or yellow fliptail grub was the ticket. you could get the hellbender to bang bottom in 35 foot of water. we would use 50 lb line on surf rods because trolling at 5 mph with that lure was like catching a 5lb bass just holding the rod

That’s exactly how we did it. Use to have a blast catching them on Keystone. Haven’t been in years.

[T. Hill]

3 way swivel to tag line. Tie 4’ leader to Hellbender without hooks. Tie 6’ leader with Tony Aceta pet spoon. You’ll never get hung up even in the trees. Hang on.

[pavi69]

Been using Hellbender and spec rig since the late 50's.
Spec rig.
https://www.academy.com/p/h-h-lure-3...hite-01-1-8-oz

[suck my wake]

Use to troll stripers with this method. Key for me was to get the speed dialed in.

[NAMVET1968]

Has anyone tried this setup for fishing Stripers? Was reading about attaching a 4 to 5ft leader to the tail of a Hellbender that has your favorite striper lure attached. That way it will get it down deep to where the Stripers are at while trolling. I plan on hitting Norfolk lake for a week in June for Stripers and was researching ways to catch them. Apparently when you remove the hooks on the Hellbender it’s like a poor man’s downrigger.

https://www.amazon.com/Heddon-Hellbe...36074638&psc=1

Tfall ,,check out BINKS GUIDE SERVICE on Norfolk (YOU TUBE )

[Quillback]

Stripers may not be deep in June, at least early June. I don't troll for them a lot on Beaver as I prefer to catch them on top, but I have trolled smaller Keitechs, 3.3 or maybe 3.8 on 1/4 oz or 3/8 oz heads. They might get down 10 feet or so if trolled slow and they will catch fish.

[Tfall]

Tfall ,,check out BINKS GUIDE SERVICE on Norfolk (YOU TUBE )

The Top water bite looks like a blast. Hopefully they are still hitting on top in mid June.

[Tfall]

Stripers may not be deep in June, at least early June. I don't troll for them a lot on Beaver as I prefer to catch them on top, but I have trolled smaller Keitechs, 3.3 or maybe 3.8 on 1/4 oz or 3/8 oz heads. They might get down 10 feet or so if trolled slow and they will catch fish.

Beaver is great for Stripers. I caught one at the Basscat OI in April on a Rockcrawler by accident. Was crazy fun.

[Quillback]

Beaver is great for Stripers. I caught one at the Basscat OI in April on a Rockcrawler by accident. Was crazy fun.

Usually this time of year there's a great top water bite on the dam end of the lake, but they haven't got going yet. It's great fun for sure, stripers really blow up on a top water.

[Tfall]

Usually this time of year there's a great top water bite on the dam end of the lake, but they haven't got going yet. It's great fun for sure, stripers really blow up on a top water.

Great eating fish too.

[tj]

.

[Quillback]

Great eating fish too.

Big ol' meaty fillets!